Definition: A Monteggia fracture is a variant of an ulna fracture of the forearm. In addition to the fracture of the ulna, these patients also have a dislocation of the radial head within the elbow joint.
Why is it called a Monteggia fracture?
This fracture-dislocation was initially described by Italian pathologist Giovanni Monteggia in 1814.
What is the treatment of a Monteggia fracture?
Treatment of a Monteggia fracture is with surgery to repair the ulna fracture. Usually these are unstable injuries, meaning that if the dislocation is reduced, but the ulna is not repaired, the dislocation will return (even if casted). Therefore, this is a so-called 'fracture of necessity,' meaning it is necessary to surgically repair the ulna.
Once the ulna is surgically repaired and held in the proper position, the radial head almost always will return to the correct position.
